UXO CLEARANCE INITIATIVE MAKING SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES SAFER

A significant step toward safer communities has been taken with the launch of an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance initiative at Nazarene Terere Primary School in Munda, Western Province.

The initiative, supported by The HALO Trust, aims to remove hidden and dangerous remnants of World War II from the school grounds and surrounding areas in Munda and across Western Province.

Speaking at the launch on Monday 14 September 2026, the Chairman of Terere Primary School, Pastor Gibson Pina, welcomed representatives from The HALO Trust, the Ministry of Police and Correctional Services, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, chiefs and elders of Munda, parents, community leaders, students and other guests.

Pastor Pina said the launch represented more than an official ceremony, describing it as an important step towards reclaiming land that had remained affected by the remnants of war for generations.

The Chairman highlighted the continuing human cost of unexploded ordnance left behind from World War II, noting that the presence of these dangerous remnants has continued to pose risks to communities long after the war ended.

He stressed that children should not have to risk their lives simply to attend school, welcoming the clearance of UXO from the Terere Primary School grounds as an important step towards creating a safer environment for students, teachers and visitors.

While welcoming the clearance operation, Pastor Pina also urged parents, young people and the wider Munda community to remain highly vigilant, particularly in areas that may still contain unexploded ordnance.

He further called on parents and community members to work together to support the development of safe infrastructure for children’s education as the community looks towards a safer future.

The launch also provided an opportunity to reflect on the devastating legacy of war in the Solomon Islands.

Pastor Pina appealed to countries around the world to learn from the experiences of communities such as Munda and the Solomon Islands, stressing that war brings immense suffering and leaves consequences that can continue for generations.

He expressed hope that the Solomon Islands would not experience war on its shores again and called for peace among nations.

The Chairman expressed his sincere gratitude to the Solomon Islands Government, the Western Provincial Government, church leaders, chiefs, parents and community members who supported the launch.

He also paid tribute to The HALO Trust for undertaking the difficult and dangerous task of UXO clearance and thanked the organisation for helping to give children and communities greater freedom to use their land safely.

The UXO clearance initiative at Terere Primary School is therefore being welcomed as an important investment in community safety, children’s education and the future wellbeing of Munda and the wider Western Province.

Students and staff of the Terere Christian School with some of the HALO Trust team pose for a photo during the launch of the UXO technical survey pilot project at their school.

-MPNSCS Press